Collapsible crate or case



MOULTON COLLAPSIBLE CRATE 0R CASE Filed June 30 .7 I

(PM LOW M Patented Oct. 23, 1923.

a o atense; 5F

ADRIAN MOULTON, 0F DEVONPORT, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND.

ooLLAPsIBLE oRA'rn OR oasis.

' ing at Cheltenham Road, Devonport, Auckland, in the Dominion of New Zealand, have invented a new and useful Improved C01 lapsible Crate or Case, of which the following is a specification. I

The invention relates to an improved construction of collapsible packing case or crate adaptable for any of the purposes for which cases or crates are used-to transport merchandise, articles of food, fruits, etc[ The said construction'is designed to provide for the case or crate, when empty, being collapsed into a smaller compass so as to allow for it occupying a minimum of space and thereby to economize in the cost of its carriage. The general features of the invention con sist in the construction of the crate or case by means of specially formed end frames to which the bottom, sides and top of the crate or case are secured and which end frames are so made that the members of the crate or'case assembled upon them may collapse or fold cornerwise 0r diagonally into a small space, combined with specially formed loose ends that are adapted to fit into such end frames when they are in the opened condition and then to form the ends of the crate or case and which when in position hold the crate or case in a rigid state against any possibility of collapsing. These ends are themselves adapted to be locked in position by a specially formed portion of the top or cover of the crate or case when placed thereon.

These features of construction are shewn in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is an end elevation, and

Figure 2 a side elevation of the com plete case.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the case with the ends removed.

Figure 4c is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the case with one end in position and showing the other end being placed in position.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional elevation of the collapsed case.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional elevation of the distended case with the cover top in position.

Figure 7 is a plan view of Figure 6.

In carrying out the invention the case, as

Application filed June so, 1921 Serial in). 481,455.

shewn, is formed with end frames each made up'of four members arranged in a rectangle and pivoted at their'jointing ends so that the frame may collapse cornerwise or diagfrom the top. 7 These members are made up of the two vertical members A, corresponding'in length with the height of the case, and the two horizontal members B cor-- responding in length with the width of the case. The said vertical members A are ar-, ranged to overlap the outer ends of the respective upper and lower horizontal members in forming the rectangular frame and are then pivotally attached to such ends by pivotrivets' C passing transversely through theover'lapping ends. This permits of the frame collapsing in the manner described, the ends of the members being rounded, as shewn, whenever required, toensure of freedom to collapse.

The case body is then made up by securing the bottom D and the sides E to the corresponding members of theendframes, by nailing, screwing or otherwise. so that they extend between them to form the case of the required length. In large and long cases, additional frames may be disposed at'intervals between the end frames, to give stability to the cases. p l

The top of the case may be made as a removable cover to fit over the whole area, or it m'a'y be made, as shewn, of two edge portionsF fixed along the respective edges and attached permanentlyto the upper horizon tal members of the end frames, and a central portion G adapted to fit in between these edge portions and to be fastened down upon the ,said frame members.

The case body, thus formed is without ends and will be free to open upinto its rectangular form, as shewn, in most of the figures in the drawings, or to beicollapsed into the shape shewn in Figure 5, at will. In order that the sides Ewill not interfere with this collapsing action, each side proper is made of somewhat less height than the full height of the case, being shortened at the edge that when collapsing folds towards the bottom or top of the case. The space (so onally when pressure is applied downwards I 1 ieo thus left is then covered in by a, strip E fixed .to the inside of the mainportion and fitting in between the vertical frame members, as shewn clearly in Figures 2, 4 and 5. The case is provided with end members to complete it and designed to holdit stable in p the opened out condition. Each end is formed by a single piece of boarding H, or of a number of boards suitably secured together, of a superficial area and shape to adapt it to fit neatly in between the vertical members A of the end frame concerned and to extend throughout the height of such frame. The end is provided with a cleat J secured horizontally across its middle, on its inside face and projecting beyond both of its side edges distances corresponding with the width of the end frame members A. It is also provided with'a second cleat K secured horizontally across its inside surface at a distance up from its bottom edge correspending with the width of the bottom mem .761 B of the end frame, but this cleat is made without any projecting ends.

The end is arranged in position from the inside of the opened out case, by first pass ing its upper end out through between the vertical frame members A until the ends of the cleat J engage the inside of these members, then lifting the end until its bottom edge may clear the bottom member of the said frame (which is the position shewn in Figure l). The bottom edge may then be swung out also so that the end then extends plumb between the upri hts A and is dropped until the cleat l rests upon the top edge of the lower member B of the frame, as shewn at the left hand end of Figure a. When the end is in this position therefore, it will nest in between the vertical members of the end frame and thereby prevent such frame from collapsing. It will be kept from falling outwards by'the engagement of the cleat J with the inside of such vertical members, and from falling in wards by the overlapping of its upper and lower edges respectively with the outside faces of the upper and lower horizontal members B of the end frame.

In order to prevent any possibility of the case ends sliding upwards out of position, the top or cover of the case is made to project at its ends out over the two case ends, as shewn clearly in Figure 4. Consequently when the cover is in position the case will be effectually retained as a firm, stable structure.

To break down the case, the cover is removed, the end pieces drawn inwards and lifted out through the top opening and the case body collapsed. 'When in this collapsed position, the ends maybe stowed within the case, and the cover replaced so that the whole will occupy a minimum of space for transport or storage.

The removable portion G of the cover may be fastened in any approved manner such as will permit of it being removed and replaced without damaging it to any extent. in the drawings it is shewn as being held in position by means of screw pins screwed into the end frame so that their heads project upwards, and slots N formed in the cover and so positioned that they may be slid over the screw pins and beneath their heads, and then locked by the screwing in of the pins to cause the heads to engage the edges of the slots.

It will readily be understood that the outside covering for the framing may be varied in a number of ways to adapt the article to different purposes and to form it into a crate, basket or case, as may be desired.

1. A collapsible crate or case formed by end frames, each made of four members arranged to form a rectangle and pivotally at tached together, with bottom and sides ex tending between the frames and secured at their respective ends to the corresponding bottom andL side members of the two end frames and with a. cover adapted to be re movably attached to the top members of the said frames, in combination with end pieces shaped to fit respectively within each of such frames and to lock when extended across within its enclosed area, substantially as specified.

2. A collapsible crate or case, comprising a rectangular hollow'frame having two vertical side members arranged to overlap the outsides of the respective ends of the upper and lower horizontal members and pivotally attached thereto, combined with an end piece shaped to it between the said vertical members and to overlap both upper and lower horizontal members and having a cross bar or cleat fixed upon its inside face and arranged to project" beyond its two side edges, substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.

In testimony whereof, ll affix my signature.

ADRIAN MOULTON. Witnesses DAvin BROWN HULLON, GRAcn GREENSHIELD HURIEY. 

